92 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 11. 
this country might have justified the adoption of an 
arrangement so generally acquiesced in, and avoided 
the confusion necessarily consequent on the present 
schedule. Saving this point, the Dublin prize-list calls 
for most favourable mention; the distinction is there 
mainly drawn between fowls with “ combs,” and those 
with “crests.” Among the former, we have separate 
I classes for the single and rose-combed Dorkings, with 
the “ Brahma Pootras,” in their correct position as “ Grey 
| Shanghaes.” The fowls of “any other distinct breed” 
! are not mentioned, but “ Persian or tailless,” and the 
I “Frizzled” are separately invited; we should, however, 
I have preferred the class as it usually stands. In 
' “Bantams” there is a wise distinction drawn, and which 
will avoid much discussion, by placing the “ clear-leggecl 
assorted colours” apart from the “feather-legged assorted 
colours.” The “ Irish CucJcoo ” we presume to be the 
common Cuckoo fowl of this country, which, in its best 
form, is simply a “Cuckoo Dorking” with all the 
characteristics of that family. 
Among the “ fowls with crests,” we notice classes forty- 
four and forty-five for “ black-crested White fowl.” Is 
there, then, any clue to that great and long-sought 
desideratum of the poultry-yard, the “ Black-crested 
White Poland?” Sincerely shall we offer our con¬ 
gratulations to the fortunate owner who exhibits, 
and the Society which is the medium of the re-intro, 
duotion of the bird that shall truly answer to this 
description. 
In Pigeons, we notice the singular absence of Jacobins, 
with some others of less note, which are usually, how¬ 
ever, specified in the prize-list; these birds, moreover, 
should always have a prize, or prizes, for “ any other 
variety,” many specimens of high excellence frequently 
appearing under this head. 
The 5th, 6th, and 7th of December next are the 
days appointed for this Exhibition. 
i The locality selected for a Poultry Show is always an 
. important element in its financial success. We offer 
our congratulations, therefore, to the Devon and Cornu all 
■ Society, to whom the permission has been accorded of 
occupying, for this purpose, the beautiful grounds of 
Antony, the seat of W. IP. Pole Carew, Esq., on the 
Tamar, near Plymouth. To make the most of such an 
advantage, the season of the year, in other respects 
most suitable, must yield precedence to the summer 
months; and if the older birds will fail to do themselves 
full justice in June, a far greater number of persons 
will probably be disposed to avail themselves of the 
exhibition, and thus both contribute to the funds, 
and themselves benefit by the efforts of the Society. 
There are but few points requiring comment in this 
schedule, which announces the 27th and 28th of June 
next as appointed for the Exhibition. 
The so-called “Brahma Pootras,” we are glad to find, 
receive no honour at the hands of this Association, not 
being alluded to either specially, or finding admission 
in a class for “ any other variety." The latter, however, 
we should always consider as an usoful portion of every j 
Poultry Show. The Game Fowls are enumerated as : 
“Red,” “Grey” and “ any other named variety." The ; 
fourth Poland Class, wisely introduced, is for “ white or 
buff;" this we should have advised to have been more 
extensive, so as to include the “black” and some others, 
which have clearly as good a claim to be considered ! 
distinct varieties as those there specially named. Pigeons 
are somewhat restricted; but this is compensated by 
power being given to the Judges to award prizes to any 
specimens not mentioned in the list. 
The rules, local details alone excepted, are framed 
after the Birmingham model. 
ADVICE TO SMALL HOLDERS. 
Rotation Schemes. — It is a notorious and well- j 
ascertained fact, that it is by no means expedient to 
continue the same kind of crop on the same plot for 
] many years. I do uot say that some kinds will not 
j succeed; such a position can scarcely be maintained, 
inasmuch, as even in the matter of Onions, a garden 
vegetable, I have known cottagers and farmers in this 
county grow these on the same bed, or beds, for some 
i twenty years or more, as a matter of choice. But I 
never could obtain a reason l'or this proceeding, except 
that they succeeded on that spot. Such arguments, or 
rather whims, may not, however, be permitted to dictate 
cropping schemes in these times. The deductions of 
science have long since proved that plants differ some¬ 
what in both the character and the amount of certain 
qualities derivable from the soil, and that the long- 
continuation of one kind of crop from a given plot, 
must, of necessity, have a tendency to reduce or dis¬ 
sipate certain qualities, whether of an organic or 
mineral character. 
Besides this, however, the character of the tillage has, 
perforce, an influence on the mechanical character of 
the soil; one crop tends to solidify and close the portions 
of soil; another, to divide and air them: this is a 
consideration of no trilling importance. 
A knowledge, therefore, of rotation cropping, together | 
with a just appreciation of the benefits derivable from 
a judicious course of the same, constitutes one of the 
main features in the much-improved condition of agri¬ 
culture at the present day. 
We have not space here, neither is it desirable, to 
expatiate on the whys and wherefores of this wide and 
interesting question; our business must be rather to 
direct attention to a few salient points, bearing more 
immediately on the owner of a Cow or two, with some 
Pigs; for with such an object we set out. 
And now a slight difficulty presents itself in the out- , 
set. All our readers, I am assured, are not confined to j 
one Cow or two, somo may keep half-a-dozen. I name { 
| Cows, because I consider the case in band must have \ 
special reference to Cow-keeping; not that every body j 
keeps Cows, but that the majority as to the case in hand | 
do, and that, as a good system ot mamire-makiug is I 
indispensable to high culture, so he that can keep the 
i most stock on a given quantity of land, other matters 
I being right, must, of necessity, prove the belter farmer. 
It is, confessedly, not easy to understand how Cows 
can be most profitably kept without the adjunct of Pigs, 
or vice versa, how swine can be made a profitable spe¬ 
culation without occasional assistance from the dairy. 
As to the manure question, nobody esteems Messrs. 
Gibbs’ Peruvian Guano more than myself, but it is too 
costly in these times to play with; moreover, after all, ! 
muck can ( do what Guano never can; it can furnish ! 
